Stokesay Castle | English Heritage English Heritage Stokesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9AH Open weekends, 10am - 4pm Stokesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9AH Step into the finest and best-preserved fortified medieval manor house in England. Discover the great hall, unchanged for over 700 years. Spot characters carved in the timbers of the 17th-century gatehouse and climb to the top of a fairy-tale tower for breath-taking views of the Shropshire Hills. Stokesay Castle was constructed at the end of the 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, who at the time was one of the richest men in England. It remains a treasure by-passed by time, one of the best places to visit in England to experience what medieval life was like. Today the castle has been carefully restored and there is plenty to do here on a family day out.

Don't Miss The stunning views of Shropshire countryside from the gable windows of the great hall The beautfiully carved overmantel within the solar The Stokesay tearoom © Jon Wyand About us English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and places - from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of empire to a Cold War bunker. Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a company, no. 0744722, registered in England. How We Are Funded Our target is to become completely self-funding by 2023. Our confidence in achieving this is based on our track record. During the past 10 years, our commercial income has doubled and we have raised nearly £60m in donated income.

66% Self-generated income English Castles - Stokesay Castle Castles of England - Stokesay Castle Location near Craven Arms, Shropshire, England Description The castle is situated in the small village of Stokesay, 7 miles from Ludlow in the Marches; the border area between England and Wales. Stokesay Castle is considered to be the best preserved and finest fortified medieval manor house in England. The site contains the castle with its rare medieval wall paintings, a church and a half timbered gatehouse all set in cottage gardens. The castle�s two towers are joined by the Great Banqueting Hall with its huge fireplace and roof timbers made from whole trees. The north tower has the original medieval tiled floor and wall paintings as well as housing the �solar� or private apartments on the upper floor. The south tower; the part of the house which most resembles a castle, is self contained. Facilities Stokesay Castle is open to the public daily between April and September 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday during October and March and from Thursday to Sunday from November to February.

Visitors can take an audio tour of the site which brings to life the castle during the medieval times as well as visit the church and cottage style gardens. The tearoom and gift shop are also open daily in the main season. History At the time of the Norman conquest the manor house on the site was granted to the Lucy family and it wasn�t until 1281 when it was purchased by Lawrence of Ludlow; the areas richest wool merchant, that the main structure was constructed over a period of ten years. Edward I gave a license to crenellate, and during the 16th century the Elizabethan half timbered gatehouse was added, the castle was then developed throughout he next ten generations of the of Laurence�s descendents. During the reign of Charles I and at the beginning of the Civil War, the castle was owned by the Craven family and it was used as a support base for the Kings troops who were stationed at nearby Ludlow Castle. The castle was surrendered to the parliamentarians without substantial damage following a short siege. By 1706 the castle had been abandoned and for the following 150 years was only used by local farmers as storage.

It wasn�t until 1850 when the Victorians became interested in gothic architecture that the castle became of interest again. In 1869 ownership passed to John Darby Allcroft who set about restoring and maintaining the castle, on the death of Lady Magnus Allcroft in 1992 the estate passed to English Heritage. Other Castles in the Area History of Stokesay Castle | English Heritage Things to see and do History of Stokesay Castle Set in a peaceful Shropshire valley near the Welsh border, Stokesay Castle presents visitors with the placid face of the English Middle Ages. One of the finest fortified manor houses in England, it was built in the 1280s by the fabulously rich wool merchant Laurence of Ludlow. Today it forms an exceptionally picturesque ensemble of 13th-century towers, a magnificent great hall and a 17th-century gatehouse – the only substantial addition made to its fabric since the late 13th century.

Stokesay is also a monument to the art of unobtrusive restoration: it was saved from terminal decay in the 1870s and 1880s by a programme of works which, almost uniquely for its time, left little trace of its own achievement except the buildings it conserved. A reconstruction showing Stokesay Castle in about 1290 © Historic England (illustration by Chris Jones Jenkins) Laurence of Ludlow and the Building of the Castle There was a settlement at Stokesay at the time of Domesday Book, and probably a manorial building on the site of the castle by the early 1260s. Almost everything visible there today, however, was constructed in the 1280s and early 1290s. The wool merchant Laurence of Ludlow, who had become one of the richest men in England, bought the manor in 1281, and set about building an outstanding home there shortly afterwards. The work was probably largely completed by 1291, when Laurence obtained a licence to crenellate.

[1] The end of Welsh independence in 1284 had made the Marches safer than ever before, but the late 13th century was nonetheless a period of increasing activity by bands of thieves. Stokesay struck a balance between the demands of security and its owner’s wish to demonstrate his taste, wealth and importance. At the same time Stokesay, then as now, had an unobtrusive quality probably intended to reassure the Welsh Marcher lords – many of whom were eager to borrow Laurence’s money – that this new arrival represented no challenge to themselves. The Later Middle Ages Laurence of Ludlow was drowned in 1294 while shipping wool to the Low Countries. His son William may have had to attend to the final details of his father’s work on the castle. [2] Laurence’s descendants remained lords of Stokesay until 1498, living as country squires and enjoying a respected position among the gentry of Shropshire. Estate surveys show that the manor of Stokesay included 120 acres of arable land and six of meadow (for hay), along with a wood, two watermills and a dovecot.

[3] Accounts which survive from the late 14th century onwards shed light on how the Ludlows managed their property and lived in the castle, recording labourers’ wages, payments for livestock and farming gear, clothes, food and drink, and music, [4] and essential repairs made at minimal cost when occasion demanded. [5] Stokesay in the 16th Century When the last male Ludlow died in 1498, Stokesay passed through one of his granddaughters to Thomas Vernon, of a wealthy and important Derbyshire family. The Vernons’ higher social profile may have affected the standing of their house, which in 1539 John Leland described as ‘buildid like a castel’. [6] Thomas’s grandson Henry Vernon certainly suffered from ‘folie de grandeur’, and spent most of his time and money litigating fruitlessly to establish his claim to the lands and title of the Barons Grey of Powys. His account books show that he visited Stokesay from time to time, [7] and a dendrochronological survey provides evidence for repairs to the north tower in about 1577.

In 1591 he was effectively ruined when he was arrested for debt, and in 1596 he sold his Shropshire properties, including Stokesay, to Sir George Mainwaring of Ightfield. The indenture recording the sale also shows that the castle now had a park attached, containing red and fallow deer. [8] Exterior facade of the 17th-century gatehouse William Craven and the Civil War Period Mainwaring soon sold Stokesay on at a profit to a consortium of buyers who in turn sold it in 1620 to Dame Elizabeth Craven and her son William, later first Earl of Craven. An enthusiastic soldier, William was also a considerable builder, and made a lasting contribution to the appearance of the castle. In 1640–41 he spent just over £530 on works there, principally, it seems certain, on the construction of the gatehouse – the evidence of his accounts is matched exactly by the findings of a dendrochronological survey. [9] Craven was a committed Royalist and Stokesay was garrisoned on the king’s behalf, the only time in its history that it was put to military use.

But when parliamentary armies moved into Shropshire in 1645, the castle was surrendered apparently without a shot being fired. The victors demolished the curtain walls almost to the level of the moat, but left the new gatehouse standing. The garrison’s occupation left the castle in a run-down state, but during the Commonwealth period it was restored by its tenants, members of the Baldwyn family. Its condition at this time is unusually well recorded, providing evidence for the surrounding fields, meadows and woods, for farming equipment, and for the buildings and their contents. [10] Between Restorations William Craven recovered all his estates after Charles II’s restoration in 1660. He and his heirs only occasionally concerned themselves with the castle fabric. Early in the 18th century the Baldwyn family left, and Stokesay was let to a series of tenant farmers, who occupied at least parts of the castle for much of the 18th century. Some buildings were used as stores and workshops; the hall became a granary, while the basement of the south tower was converted into a smithy – a fire there in 1830 burnt out all the floors above.

While the buildings were falling into seemingly irreversible decay, Stokesay was beginning to arouse antiquarian and aesthetic interest. Increasing numbers of watercolours and engravings were made, some showing the castle in a romantic light, others illustrating the uses to which its buildings were now being put. Visitors who wrote appreciatively of the castle’s historical value also lamented its dilapidated condition. The castle found a committed champion in Frances Stackhouse Acton, a talented artist and antiquary, who in 1853 appealed to Lord Craven to save it from utter collapse. Just over £100 was spent two years later on ‘Clearing out and securing Stoke Castle’, [11] but it was insufficient to counter the effects of centuries of near-dereliction. Photograph taken in about 1900, showing the wall of the solar block with its windows covered with ivy © Shropshire Archives (PH/S/30/2/4) Rescue and Preservation of Stokesay Castle In 1869 John Derby Allcroft, a successful London glove manufacturer, bought the estate, and soon began an extensive and sympathetic programme of repairs.

He built himself a new mansion nearby, at Stokesay Court, and ‘decided that the Castle should be left empty but kept safe and sound as an historic monument’. [12] The resulting ‘substantial and greatly needed repairs’ began in 1875 and by 1887 the castle buildings were structurally sound, while probably looking much as they had done in the late 17th century. Probably the most intrusive part of Allcroft’s restoration involved making the gatehouse fit for occupation by a caretaker, and even that affected only the internal fittings. Allcroft’s descendants did all they could to preserve the essential elements of Stokesay’s fabric. They opened the castle to the public, spending on its upkeep much of what they received from admission fees. But the cost of maintainance increasingly outstripped their resources, and in 1986 Jewell Magnus-Allcroft entered into an agreement whereby English Heritage was to become responsible for Stokesay’s conservation during her lifetime, and assume ownership upon her death, which occurred in 1992.

By then a second restoration of the castle had taken place, one which had been as careful as its Victorian predecessor to respect, and preserve, what were increasingly valued as structures of time-honoured beauty and authenticity. History of Stokesay Court History of Stokesay Court John Derby-Allcroft was a wealthy Victorian merchant whose father (Jeremiah Macklin Allcroft) went into partnership with glovemakers, Messrs J & W Dent & Co. This business was so successful that both families were able to invest in large country estates on the proceeds, the Dents at Sudeley in Gloucestershire and the Allcrofts at Stokesay in Shropshire. But in contrast to the Dents, John Derby-Allcroft decided to build a modern house, rather than try to adapt Stokesay Castle. Allcroft bought the estate in 1867, and in 1874 he followed this purchase with a smaller estate known as The Stone House. This land contained a medium sized house, but it was not suitable for his large family. The site he chose for his new home, which commanded panoramic views of Ludlow and the Clee Hills, lay outside the estate and the owner refused to sell to him.

He therefore waited patiently until she died in 1886, whereupon he acquired it from her son. The house was finally started in 1889, and completed in 1892, some six months before John Derby-Allcroft’s death in 1893. The old Stone House (which Allcroft had lived in and renamed Stokesay Court in the intervening years) was demolished following the completion of the present house. Stokesay Castle remained in the Allcroft family until it passed to English Heritage in 1992 following the death of Jewell Magnus-Allcroft. John Derby-Allcroft was a philanthropic entrepreneur, and an evangelist Christian. He built a number of London churches, most notably St Matthews in Bayswater, St Judes in Courtfield Gardens and St Marks, Gospel Oak. There were over 60 bibles in the house at the time of the Sotheby’s sale in 1994. He was a major benefactor to, and Treasurer of, Christ’s Hospital School. At the time it was built, Stokesay Court was at the cutting edge of technology. Its architect was Thomas Harris.

Harris had designed industrial buildings and used this experience to incorporate modern features, such as ducting and trunking throughout the building, and underfloor heating in the Great Hall. Stokesay is one of the earliest houses in England to have been built with integral electric light, which was installed by Edmundsons Ltd in 1891. Much of this original installation is still visible today. But it is the attention to detail and the magnificence of the architecture (in particular the woodwork) evoking the Victorian era, which catch the visitor’s eye. The house is laid out around a central block with three wings: a bachelors or Gentlemens wing, a ladies wing at the opposite end, and a service wing. The interiors (excluding decoration) remain virtually unaltered since the house was built. This is partly due to the fact that the house was fully used for only a relatively brief time before the First World War brought an abrupt end to everyone’s peaceful existence, and partly to the effects of the both World Wars on its occupants as described below. Following John Derby-Allcroft’s death, the house passed to his eldest son, Herbert.

Herbert married Margaret Russell, daughter of Sir William Russell of Charlton Park in Gloucestershire in 1900. They had two children, Russell who died in 1950, and Jewell who was subsequently to inherit. Herbert Allcroft died in 1911 and in 1916 Margaret married Brigadier General Sir John Rotton, but they did not have children. During the First World War the house was used as an Auxiliary Military Hospital for convalescent soldiers and the family moved into the Stable House. They moved back in between the wars. In World War II it was occupied by Lancing College for two academic terms in 1940 when they were evacuated from Sussex. It then became a Western Command Junior Leaders’ School. The family kept a foothold in the house in the Ladies Wing and lived there throughout the war. In 1943 Jewell married Sir Philip Magnus Bt, biographer of Kitchener, Gladstone and Edward VII, and uncle of the present owner. She and her mother (Margaret Rotton) remained at Stokesay while Philip served in the army overseas. Margaret’s health failed and she died in 1946.

Russell too was unwell and Jewell found herself in charge of the house which became hers after her brother’s early death in 1950. After the Second World War, Jewell and Philip lived in just a few rooms of the house. Most of the furniture and other contents had been stored in the attics and cellars and were never again to see the light of day until after both had died. Keeping up large houses was particularly difficult in the post war years, a time of severe shortages while the country got back on its feet. A double dose of death duties within four years added to Jewell’s burden. Many large country houses were abandoned or demolished as their owners gave up the struggle. While Philip wrote, Jewell grew prize carnations and looked after the gardens, and they ignored the inevitable need for repairs and maintenance, helped by the fact that the house had been so solidly built that problems took a long time to appear. Thus nothing was changed. Jewell Magnus-Allcroft died in 1992. Following her death, the entire contents of the house were sold in a massive four day operation by Sothebys.

The present owner – niece of Sir Philip Magnus – moved in to the then completely empty house in 1995 after the Sale. At that time the roof leaked so badly that buckets were kept permanently under it and checked every time it rained. The house also needed complete rewiring – some areas had no power at all; in others the original was still in use and long past its sell by date. The plumbing too had many shortcomings. Though regrettable in many ways, the sale provided essential funds to begin repairs. Having survived the first freezing winter with antiquated and inefficient central heating, erratic hot water and much of the house unusable, a programme of repairs was put in place. The roof is now sound, the wiring has been replaced and most of the central heating overhauled. There remains a great deal more to do, particularly with regard to redecoration. Watts of Westminster have copied some of the surviving original wallpaper and fabric designs and produced a “Stokesay Court” collection. And finally “Atonement”, which is a most important chapter in the history of the house, and has contributed so much to its revival.

Working Title Films and Joe Wright, cast and crew made the summer of 2006 a truly memorable – and enjoyable – experience. Learn more about Stokesay Court’s recent history in the “New York Times” Stokesay Court Stokesay Court View Gallery Upcoming Tour Dates Click here for a taster of Stokesay Court and the filming of “Atonement” as featured in a 10 minute feature on ITV “This Morning” programme 26 February 2014. Tour dates for individuals and small parties 2017 All tours will start at 2:30pm April – end of September Special Offer: Book a house tour for Stokesay Court and get a 2for1 voucher for nearby English Heritage’s Stokesay Castle. Vouchers will be given out during tour. Tuesday 25th April Sunday 23rd July – Dog Day Tuesday 1st August Sunday 1st October (2pm start) Sunday 15th October (2pm start) Contact How did you hear about Stokesay Court [bwp-recaptcha bwp-recaptcha-494] Events Details of forthcoming events will be posted here once confirmed.

If you would like to be kept uptodate with the latest news, please email info@stokesaycourt.com Saturday 3 December Carillion – A Choir of Ladies Voices 7.30 pm St Michaels and All Angels Church, Onibury presents an evening of seasonal songs with a choir of ladies voices, together with pieces by soloists (tbc) in The Great Hall at Stokesay Court, with some fun moments thrown in. Tickets £12 (incl. glass of wine/soft drink on arrival; canapes & mince pies during the interval). Limited tickets – available from Tony Mantle 01588 674792 or Marion Jones 01584 856350 Bar and prize raffle. All proceeds to the Churchyard Maintenance Fund. Previous Events Full details & Tickets (£30) available from Brit Movie Tours For fans of Ian McEwan’s novel and the subsequent Oscar-winning film, you can take an exclusive guided tour of Stokesay Court in Shropshire and learn about the history of the house and its role in the Oscar-winning film Atonement.

A tour of the house will be followed by a Q&A session with Caroline, accompanied by a very English cup of tea. Sunday 24 July 2016 Ludlow Rotary Club Fun Dog Day 10am – 5pm A family fun day centered around dogs in the grounds of Stokesay Court, with many attractions to keep everyone delighted and lots of ‘doggy’ stuff throughout the whole day. A Ludlow Rotary charity event. For full details of times, ticket prices etc click here . Click here for details of how to win 4 free Ludlow Dog Day tickets Guided tours (house only) £10 will take place at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. These can be booked in advance (01584 856238) or on our stand at the Dog Day. Saturday 2 July Full details & Tickets (£30) available from Brit Movie Tours For fans of Ian McEwan’s novel and the subsequent Oscar-winning film, you can take an exclusive guided tour of Stokesay Court in Shropshire and learn about the history of the house and its role in the Oscar-winning film Atonement.

A tour of the house will be followed by a Q&A session with Caroline, accompanied by a very English cup of tea. Saturday 11 June A Celebration of Film and Music An exclusive fundraising event for Arcadia Music Festival STOP PRESS Academy award and Oscar winning composer Stephen Warbeck Joins us to talk about his work in film Champagne & Canape Reception 5.15pm, Event starts 6pm On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of ‘Atonement’, filmed at Stokesay Court, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful location with clips of the film, together with a compilation of other Oscar-winning films – all accompanied by live music from three experienced and international musicians. They will play on film soundtracks and give you a glimpse of how it’s all put together. Tickets £30 (to include refreshments) To avoid disappointment you can apply for tickets at info@eleanoralberga.com. Cheques to ‘Arcadia Music Festival’ to be sent to Stonebrook Lodge, Downton Castle, Ludlow, SY8 2LF. For further details of work of Arcadia Music click here.

Sunday 15 May 2016 2pm – 5pm Entry £4 per adult, children under 16 free (payable on arrival, pre-booking not required). A chance to enjoy the magnificent rhododendrons and walk through the grounds and gardens of Stokesay Court. Visitors will be able to take in new views of the pools now opened up by recent restoration work, which has also improved access to woodland areas and the intimate secrecy of the Grotto. Proceeds to be split between St. Michael’s Onibury and the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. Tea and home baked cakes, to refresh you, will be available in the Old Kitchen. Tuesday 26 April 2016 Spring Fashion Event at Stokesay Court Tickets £10 from all participating retailers in Ludlow (Bodenhams, Oska’s, Brides of Ludlow and Expensive Mistakes) and Poyners (Broad Street). A Fashion Show in a beautiful venue in aid of Ludlow War Memorial Fund. Cheese and Wine.

Wednesday 20 April 2016 Talk to Leintwardine History Society Personal Stories – Two Sisters, Two Nurses at Stokesay Court, WW1 Auxiliary Hospital Leintwardine Community Centre. 7pm for 7.30 start. Tickets £4 on the door or free to History Society Members Friday 11 March 2016 Talk at Shropshire Regimental Museum The Auxiliary Hospital in Action Reception 6.30 pm. Lecture 7pm Shropshire Regimental Museum, The Castle, Castle Street, Shrewsbury SY1 2AT Tickets £10 (Friends of the Museum £7) incl a glass of wine on arrival. Tickets available online, by phone, or visit from Shropshire Regimental Museum, Shrewsbury. For further details click here Through original letters, postcards and photographs Caroline Magnus, the owner of Stokesay Court, tells the story of some of the soldiers who convalesced at Stokesay Court when it opened its doors as an auxiliary Red Cross hospital during the First World War.

Those attending the lecture will also have the opportunity to view the Museum’s temporary display of archive materials from Stokesay Court, which will be exhibited from 15 February – 15 April 2016. Sunday 3 January 2016 Cheese & Wine Evening 5pm Onibury PCC invite you to come and enjoy the last of the festivities at Stokesay Court before the Christmas tree comes down on the twelfth night! Tickets £10 each (incl a glass of wine) available from Marion 01584 856351 or any Onibury PCC Member – in aid of Onibury Church 2015 Ludlow Rotary Club Fun Dog Day 10am – 5pm Leisurely and relaxed A family fun day centered around dogs in the grounds of Stokesay Court, with many attractions to keep everyone delighted and lots of ‘doggy’ stuff throughout the whole day. A Ludlow Rotary charity event. For full details of times, ticket prices etc click here . Why not book a guided house tour as part of the day?

A tour gives an insight into the fascinating architecture and craftsmanship in the house, as well as glimpses into the making of “Atonement” and Stokesay Court’s historic role in WW1. Tours cost £9.50 and will start at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Book in advance to be sure of a place by emailing us on tours@stokesaycourt.com or giving us a call on 01584 856238 or pay separately at our stall at the Dog Day Entrance Gate on the day. Cost of tour is additional to Dog Day Entrance Fee and does not include refreshments. Sunday 31 May 2015 2pm – 5pm Entry £4 per adult, children under 16 free (payable on arrival, pre-booking not required). A chance to enjoy the magnificent rhododendrons and walk through the grounds and gardens of Stokesay Court. Proceeds to be split between St. Michael’s Onibury and the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. Tea and home baked cakes, to refresh you, will be available in the Old Kitchen.

Saturday 9 May & Sunday 10 May June Tabor in Concert 7.00 pm – Pre-concert drinks served on the terrace 7.30 pm – Concert start. Interval drinks will be on sale. Tickets £20 (to include glass of wine on arrival) Sunday 10 May Grounds open from 12.30 pm for picnics 3.00 pm Concert in the Great Hall starts Tickets £15 (to include cup of tea) Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon concerts by June Tabor offer a unique opportunity to experience this great interpreter of song in the atmospheric setting of Stokesay Court’s Great Hall. Known primarily for her authoritative and memorable versions of traditional material, June has, throughout her career, been just as effective in more modern and contemporary repertoire. What matters to her is that she sings songs to which she is drawn strongly, which tell meaningful stories and conjure strong images. The concerts will be far from identical, and appropriately for Stokesay, will include songs evoking the 1914-18 war, about which June Tabor has sung for forty years.

Accompaniment and instrumental colour will be provided by musicians Andy Cutting and Mark Emerson, playing piano, viola, accordion and violin. Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 April 2015 Stokesay Court, Red Cross Hospital Centenary Weekend House/Exhibition and Gardens – 1pm – 4.30pm Adult £8/ Child £4, Saturday & Sunday Tickets also on sale on the day at the gate. Advance booking is not required to visit the house on this occasion. However, booking is recommended for the concert on Sunday afternoon (details below) as space is limited. A weekend to commemorate the centenary of the opening of Stokesay Court as an Auxiliary Military Hospital . There will be house tours of the rooms where soldiers recuperated, a chance to view exhibits from the Stokesay Court and British Red Cross archives and Shropshire Regimental Museum and a Great War Society re-enactment field hospital and concerts. Step back in time and experience how Stokesay Court might have been transformed as part of the war effort. Devised from research into Stokesay Court and British Red Cross archives and Shropshire Regimental Museum. Proceeds to be shared with the British Red Cross.

Tea rooms open 1pm – 4pm. Hear some of Stokesay’s story here. Why not walk to Stokesay Court? On Sunday 19th you can join a guided walk with Keith Pybus on a gentle 3-mile walk from Stanton Lacy to Stokesay Court. Keith has researched the story of one of Shropshire’s First World War VCs who gained his country’s highest award for valour at Gallipoli. For full details of walk times and ticket prices click here Sunday 19 April 2015 I’ve got a bit of a Blighty one Concert 5pm – 7pm Concert tickets £15 in advance Combined tickets for Sunday afternoon Open House + Concert £18 in advance Musical entertainment and readings based on letters and concert programs discovered in the Stokesay Court archives from the time of the Great War (1915-1918). It will include a selection of popular songs, hymns and poems of the time mixed with pre-recorded readings of letters, received from past patients of the hospital, and a narration explaining the story of the hospital and the roles of the owners, staff and patients.

The entertainment will be provided by a troupe of local actors and musicians. Proceeds will be shared with the British Red Cross. Centenary Weekend Sponsors: A glorious blaze of colour 2pm – 5pm Entry £4 per adult, children under 16 FREE. Enjoy a Spring afternoon out at the magnificent Victorian Stokesay Court. Why not bring your family for a stroll round Stokesay Court’s Grade II listed parkland?As Spring bursts into bud bringing wonderful displays of daffodils and primroses, you can take a walk along the paths through the woods, watch nesting birds darting across the Stone House Pools, enjoy the wonderful vistas towards Ludlow and the Clee Hills. Then relax with tea and home baked cakes served in the Old Kitchen. (Partial disabled access on footpaths). This event may be subject to suitable weather. Tuesday 3 March Antiques Valuation Day – Saturday 6 September 11am – 5pm Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers will provide appraisals of your antiques in The Great Hall at Stokesay Court. Adam will have with him his experienced team of valuers (to include fellow Flog It!

expert and specialist Michael Baggott) together covering all aspects of antiques and fine art. Cream teas, coffee and cakes available in the Dining Room. Entry to the grounds costs £4 which also entitles the individual to a valuation of an antique in The Great Hall (£1 per item thereafter). For more information call 01625 431 788 or visit the website . Stokesay Castle Stokesay Castle Photographs Copyright � 2009 by Jeffrey L. Thomas . Above: exterior view of the north tower (left), hall (center), and south tower (right) Below: view of the hall range at Stokesay Castle. Julian Munby, English Heritage guidebook Stokesay Castle is a remarkable survival, a fortified manor house which has hardly altered since the late 13th century. The house was built by Lawrence Ludlow, a leading wool merchant of his day, who created a comfortable residence combining an aesthetically pleasing design with some defensive capabilities. In doing so, he took advantage of the newly established peace on the Welsh border following Edward I's defeat of the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Last .

This enabled him to build a large hall, comfortable solar, or private apartment, with windows on the outside world, without fear of attack. Below: two views of the 17th century timber-framed gatehouse. By good fortune Stokesay escaped destruction during the Civil War despite being involved in a skirmish. In the 19th century the castle was sympathetically restored and preserved, thanks to the enlightened efforts of several early conservationists. In the 1980s English Heritage carried out an extensive programme of repair. Despite its name, Stokesay was not called a castle before the 16th century and is really a fortified manor house, more domestic in character than military. As with many early manor houses, the church and castle are now isolated, the village of which they were once the focal point having either moved or disappeared. The first records of Stokesay date from the period immediately following the Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror installed Roger Montgomery as earl of Shrewsbury, and he in turn granted Stokesay to one of his retainers, Roger de Lacy. Below: view of the three-storied south tower topped by battlements dating from the late 13th century.

The Say family were tenants of Stokesay until the death of Walter de Lacy in 1240, when his son-in-law John de Verdon inherited, and obtained possession from Hugh de Say in exchange for land in Ireland. It is possible that de Verdon began the actual building of Stokesay around this time; the north tower and parts of the solar block may be his works. Verdon's tenant John de Grey sold the tenancy of Stokesay to the merchant Lawrence of Ludlow in 1281. The Ludlows were the leading wool merchants of the Marches, based in Shrewsbury, but with international connections in trade and finance. Although he remained technically a feudal tenant of Gray and Verdon, for all intents and purposes, Ludlow was the owner of the whole manor, obtaining a royal charter of free hunting rights in 1281. Below (3): views of the north tower, exterior & interior We can assume Lawrence began building soon after 1281, while completion of his work is perhaps indicated by the 'license to crenellate' which he obtained in 1291 from Edward I at Hereford.

This was a license granted by the king allowing the license-holder to make a structure defendable by adding battlements. Many generations of Ludlows became well established as country gentry, frequently serving as Sheriffs of Shropshire in the 14th and 15th centuries. A walk around the outside of the castle gives an impression of how it would have appeared to an approaching traveller, a combination of impressive fortification and comfortable residence. Certain features of the design clearly indicate that Lawrence was as concerned to impress with the elegance of his house as with its strength. The moat surrounding the castle is entirely artificial, as the castle stands on a slope. The water came from a large pond to the south-west of the castle. The impressively-built north tower (left) stands on a sloping (battered) base which is lower than the rest of the castle. From the west, the main range of buildings appears to advantage, and this may have been intended as the main facade of the castle, since the road from Ludlow may have originally passed on this side of the valley. The section of curtain wall between the hall and south tower originally contained battlements, but was rebuilt in the 17th century.

Of the post-medieval additions to the castle, only the gatehouse now remains. This is an elaborate example of the regional style of timber framing built around a central gate passage. To the north of the castle is the Church of St John the Baptist, its churchyard extending almost to the castle walls. Below: view of the castle from the Church of Saint John the Baptist The Craven family and their tenants succeeded the Ludlows at Stokesay, but by the beginning of the 19th century the castle buildings had fallen into a state of decay and were being used by a nearby farm. Moves to preserve the castle buildings were initiated in about 1850 by Mrs Stackhouse of Acton (1794-1881). In 1869 J.D. Allcroft, an altruistic Victorian, purchased Stokesay and carried out repairs from then until his death in 1892. The Allcroft family opened the castle to the public in 1908 and in 1992, following the death of Lady Magnus Allcroft, the castle came into the guardianship of English Heritage .

Question: In which English county is Stokesay Castle?
Answer: Shropshire